Arizona silver belt., 1887-08-20
A "TRIP TO ALASKA.
Many and Varied A.trac, o4, 10 ,ne To,.,,.,

s7 " PhOlilSCi H6Ie goes for short account of my trip to Alas ka. On July I2th our mutual friend Con Ccsgrove, of Kansas, and myself bid goodbye to beautiful Santa Bar bara, bound for the so-called Wonder land of the far NOrth-sorry to leave for the time being the pleasant bath ing, fishing, etc., of the land of flowers and sunshine, but anxious to see and know the wonders of the land of ice and n1ghtless day.
 The sea voyage to Frisco was un- usually rough, and poor Con. paid a heavy tribute to Neptune in thls his first initiation on salt water. How ever we saw some whales, and finally got there. l enjoyed it hugely, ia fact 1 have learned to love rough water like used to enjoy the bucking Texas bronco, as long as I did not go down. The sights of Frisco are many and enticing; we saw them all, and Con. acknowledged Frisco the boss town for anything and everything you please. At the last moment Con, fear ful of further encounters with the dreaded salt water, backed clear out, boarded tlls cars for San Jose, and took alsAe the cutoff for Portland, Oregon. This ride is very interesting and the scenery varied indeed. 1 passed through a vast and fearful for est fire in the Shasta mountains, and right beyond, at the foot of Mt. Shas- ta, 14,4O0 feet high, capped with per petual snow and ice. The road runs over many high trestle works, hun dreds of feet high, and some perhaps miles fn length, and apparently very dangerous. The fourishlng town of Portland is very attractive.
 Having some days to spare before the sailing of the "Olymplan" for Alaska, I took an excursion steamer for sevaral hundred miles up the grand old Columbia river. I Ifshed for salmon, saw the famous Cascades, the wild scenes and steep, straight walls of the Columbia, lovely Spokane Falls no doubt the largest available water power in the world-queer Rooster Rock, and finally the stupendous Gas cade railroad to Tacoma. This road crosses Cascade mountains at an aver age grade of 296 feet per mile. The train has two 90-ton engines at each end; it does not turn at all in going up and down the steep mountains, but simply switches back and forth, but still ahead. like a boat beating to windward, and is considered the best triumph of engineering skill of any road new built. Some places you see five tracks directly below or above the tram, and it dizzies the head at the immense heights passed over. The Sound towIs of.Tacoma, Olympia and Seattle are building up fast and are dolng a large trade. Enterprislng men still have here a field for good openings in business. While watch ing the many small steamers depart ing from Tacoma, happened to see a very exciting race and collision be- tween two competing boats, the Fleet wood and the Hayward. Happily, no lives were lost, but so many badly jeopardized that I was astonished such reckless rivalry was allowed.
 On July 18th very large crowd of people from many parts of the world, and this one Globeite, boarded the large and handsome steamer Olym- plan, bound for Alaska and way ports. As our boat pulled out, many were on the dock to bld their friends good bye, but 1 was a stranger to all, and for the first time slnce I left home, I felt lonesome. By chance a happy thought struck me, l raised my sombrero, bowed to the crowd, a la Globe Ian ciers, grinned my best smile and sung out lpstily, "Well, good bye, Judgem More than half dozen hats came off at once, handkerchiefs waved to me, farewells came back, and I had the satisfaction of as good a send-of as anybody aboard. The steel steamer Olympian IS no doubt the best ap- pointed and most elegantly furnished boat on the Pacific coast, and here they do most things in ''way up style" She carries no steerage passengers. no freight, Is very fast and really float ing palace, constructed for Alaska ex- cursionistS. She sets a better table than Fatty kee, has baths, etc., elec tric lights throughout, good books and liquors, and all good hotel comforts.
 I was awed by Yosemite, wondered at the Geysers, admired the Hudson, proud of Niagara, enraptured with the fair Rhine, suppressed amazement at London, loved Paris, cherish Ari- zona, but this Alaska trip completely takes the whole ginger cookey," and trying to justly describe it is feat hnunnd my ahllitu In tinnn nf t,.nnhIn